Cuba´s National Health System has given priority to those patients since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. This figure amounted to about 3,887 (39,6%) in 2020 and 1,714 people died from it (30.4%), according to official statistics. Dr. María Caridad Rubio, president of the Special Working Group for the Control of Breast Cancer, said that, although 99% of breast cancer patients are women, men can also be sickened from it, according to the Public Health Ministry (MINSAP) official website.

Ms. Rubio explained that the major risk is being a woman, in addition to having a family history of breast cancer, the abusive use of oral contraceptives, early menarche or late menopause, nulliparity (who decide not to have children), as well as the mature age at first childbirth, obesity and addictions such as alcoholism and smoking.

She also talked about the implementation of education, prevention and promotion actions for health in Cuba, as well as providing healthcare for patients from primary, secondary or tertiary level depending on diagnosis.

Ms. Rubio added that they boast off a group of specialists in Imaging, Psychology, Genetics, Oncology, Surgery, Nursing and Rehabilitation, with vast experience and responsibility to guarantee these quality services.

She recalled breast self-exam as one of control actions to prevent the disease, which has led to a high number of women to go to the doctor after detecting nodules.

Along with this practice, it is necessary to control annual check-up by the family doctor in order to detect ever smaller tumors, in addition to educating population as to risk factors for breast cancer and accessibility to specialized centers.

Breast cancer is the most common one worldwide and reported over 2.2 million cases in 2020.

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